Women's rugby union
Rugby Australia President David Codey speaks during a media event ahead of the final vote for the hosting of the Rugby World Cups in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 12, 2022. World Rugby will announce the host nations for the men's and women's World Cups for the period 2025-2033 with Australia heavily favored to host the men's 2027 and women's tournaments in 2029. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
US to host men's and women's Rugby World Cups for first time

By Steve Douglas May. 12, 2022 01:58 PM EDT

United States expected to be named host of Rugby World Cups

By Steve Douglas May. 11, 2022 07:12 AM EDT
With the full support of the White House, an American bid to stage the men's and women's Rugby World Cups is expected to receive the green light on Thursday as the...

New Zealand's Michaela Blyde, left, scores a try as Australia's Charlotte Caslick tackles her during the gold-medal match on the final day of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in Langford, British Columbia, Sunday, May 1, 2022. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press via AP)
Australia wins Langford title, clinches sevens world series

May. 01, 2022 10:02 PM EDT

FILE - New Zealand All Blacks winger Charles Piutau runs down field during a rugby test match against Argentina in Christchurch, New Zealand, on July 17, 2015. World Rugby has relaxed its eligibility rules to allow players to switch countries as of January. The governing body made the announcement Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, in what it described as a “landmark" change. International players such as England's Billy and Mako Vunipola could represent Tonga, as could New Zealand's Charles Piutau, who won the last of his 17 caps in 2015, making him eligible to switch country allegiance next year. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford)
World Rugby to allow players to switch national teams

Nov. 24, 2021 02:44 PM EST

Chile's Sebastian Berti, left, is tackled by Jamaica's Mark Phillips during an HSBC Canada Sevens semifinal rugby match in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
South Africa wins Edmonton Sevens and men's series title

Sep. 26, 2021 08:22 PM EDT

Kenya's Levy Amunga, left, and South Africa's Darren Adonis vie for the ball during an HSBC Canada Sevens rugby game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
US, South Africa through to final 8 at Vancouver Sevens

Sep. 18, 2021 10:53 PM EDT

Fiji players huddle up at the start of their women's rugby sevens semifinal match against New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Fijians, Kiwis celebrate multiple medals in Olympic rugby 7s

By John Pye Aug. 01, 2021 01:24 AM EDT

New Zealand's Stacey Fluhler dives to score a try, in the women's rugby gold medal match between New Zealand and France at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
New Zealand beats France to clinch gold in women's rugby 7s

By John Pye Jul. 30, 2021 11:48 PM EDT

Taiwan's Wang Chi-Lin, left, and Lee Yang compete against China's Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen during their men's doubles gold medal Badminton match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Olympic Latest: Bencic wins tennis gold for Switzerland

Jul. 30, 2021 08:57 PM EDT

Cheta Emba of the United States, second right, comes under pressure from Australia's Charlotte Caslick, right, and Australia's Sharni Williams, in their women's rugby sevens match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Aussies, US and Canada out; NZ survives Day 2 in rugby 7s

By John Pye Jul. 30, 2021 12:46 AM EDT

Ilona Maher, left, of the United States is chased by China's Yang Min during their women's rugby sevens match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Fiji upsets Canada, Black Ferns fend off Brits in women's 7s

By John Pye Jul. 28, 2021 11:49 PM EDT

Sarah Hirini and David Nyika, of New Zealand, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New Zealand Black Ferns aiming to avenge Rio loss to Aussies

By John Pye Jul. 28, 2021 02:22 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2016, file photo, Viliame Mata of Fiji evades a tackle during the gold medal mens rugby sevens match against Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was rugby in fast forward and it generated millions of new fans across the world. Rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 bringing all the usual hard-hitting tackles, collisions and swerving runs but leaving out the slow-mo elements of the traditional 15-a-side game. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Olympic travel a big challenge for some Pacific Island teams

By Steve Mcmorran Jul. 07, 2021 03:01 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2016, file photo, Viliame Mata of Fiji evades a tackle during the gold medal mens rugby sevens match against Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was rugby in fast forward and it generated millions of new fans across the world. Rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 bringing all the usual hard-hitting tackles, collisions and swerving runs but leaving out the slow-mo elements of the traditional 15-a-side game. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Faster, brighter: Olympics a 'game changer' for rugby sevens

By John Pye Jul. 07, 2021 01:27 AM EDT

Perry Baker back in U.S. rugby 7s squad for Tokyo Olympics

Jul. 02, 2021 09:34 PM EDT
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (AP) — Two-time world rugby sevens player of the year Perry Baker has recovered from a serious leg injury to earn his place in the U.S....

A crow perches on a light pole near the statue of the Olympics rings in Tokyo on Thursday, July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
3 Samoan weightlifters to miss Olympics over virus concerns

By Steve Mcmorran Jul. 01, 2021 08:19 PM EDT

Fiji set for gold defense; New Zealand women aim for upgrade

Jul. 01, 2021 12:18 PM EDT
HIGHLIGHTS FROM RIO: The first Olympic gold medal ever awarded in rugby sevens went to the Australian women's team. The Aussies held off archrival New Zealand...

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019 file photo, Australia's Samu Kerevi fends off an England's Manu Tuilagi during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match at Oita Stadium in Oita, Japan. Kerevi has been named in the Australian 7's squad for the Tokyo Olympics. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena,File)
Kerevi preparing to play 7s for Australia at Tokyo Olympics

Jun. 17, 2021 12:43 AM EDT

World Rugby stays in-house in hiring new chief executive

Mar. 18, 2021 07:02 AM EDT
DUBLIN (AP) — World Rugby made the in-house move of hiring Alan Gilpin as the governing body’s chief executive, tasking the English official with leading the...

World Rugby launches 3-tier global women's competition

Mar. 16, 2021 06:29 AM EDT
DUBLIN (AP) — A global, 16-team women’s rugby competition was launched on Tuesday in an effort to unify the calendar across the hemispheres and raise...